COLUMBIA, S.C. — Devin Booker scored 18 points, Aaron Harrison added 13 and No. 1 Kentucky matched its best start under coach John Calipari with a 58-43 victory over South Carolina on Saturday.
The Wildcats pulled away with 14 consecutive points after the Gamecocks took their last lead at 24-23 with 4:31 in the opening half.
Kentucky’s lead never fell below double digits after that.
Tyler Ulis started the comeback for Kentucky (19-0, 6-0 SEC) with a steal and basket before Booker made two fouls shots and a jam and the Wildcats were on their way.
Thornwell had 11 points for the Gamecocks (10-8, 1-5 SEC), who shot 4 for 27 in the final 24 minutes.
Duane Notice, South Carolina’s leading scorer this season, was held to two points, nine fewer than his average, and missed all five field goal tries.
Booker, a freshman, finished one shy of his career high set twice, the previous time in the win over UCLA last month.
Kentucky was looking not to stumble at Colonial Life Arena as it has in the past.
This one seemed as big a mismatch with the Harrison twins and bevy of big bodies to control the struggling Gamecocks.
Still, it took until late in the opening half before the Wildcats’ talent and athleticism took control to score the final 11 points of the half.
Two steals led to Ulis’ basket and two foul shots by Booker. After Thornwell missed a shot, Andrew Harrison put a perfect pass right on the hands of a streaking Booker for another easy jam and a 29-24 lead.
Lyles added a dunk and Ulis closed the half with two foul shots for a 34-24 lead.
South Carolina went 0 for 4 with three turnovers in its scoreless stretch in the half.
The Wildcats were 19-0 in 2009-10, Calipari’s first season in Kentucky, when he had NBA standouts John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins. That run ended with South Carolina’s 68-62 stunner at home.
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